Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-10-06
Saint Nafg's Beacon.
A STAMPEDE OF CATTLE.

o! the manner Of handling beef herd
at night, it may be well to explain
right here. The outfit is divided
up into "relIefs, usually two men
each, and each relief goes on herd in
turn and watches the cattle fo7 two
or three hours during the night.
- night approaches several Of the
men ride up and round up the cat
tie as closely as possible without
crowdIng them, OH some comparative
iy smooth space not too far from cam p.
Alter they are rounded up on the
bed ground and have quoted down
somewhat the first relief takes
charge OF them, and two men ride
slowly around the herd in opposite d.
rectons. If everything is sat:sfacto-
~ to has bovine majesty he will very
soon lie down, and after chewing the
cud Of contentment or grass for awhile
doZe oil and snore "a comfortably as
men are sometimes said to do.
But to continue my story. a Nor
mon boy and myself were on the first
relief. When We went to the herd
1t had been rounded up and few of
them we're already lying down. The
majority OF them, however, were graz
ing as eagerly as though instead Of
nothing but eat all the afternoon, they
had been fasting for a day or two.
Every now and then some excitable
"crItter would raise his head and
snuff the air as ii to discover the cause
Of hIs uneasIness, for cattle are as much
Affected by the change Of temperature
- he thermometer.
They seem to know by instinct that
something unusual is about to occur,
and will plainly indicate tv their ac-
tons the approach Of storm. Pres
entity the wind storred blowing, and
It VAS but 4 short time before we had
most Of the cattle living down. 1t is
growing very dark, however, with
heavy, leaden clouds slowly gather
M over u, and we knew that al.
though the elements were so quiet
they could not he trusted and We were
anticipating most any emergency.
cur comparative peace was Of short
duration, for It soon commenced 10
rain, fine, drizzling, cold and penetra-
ting.
The cattle didn't like it, and at fire.
Iurlt intervals would express their
dIssatls faction by low bellowings, and
II was but few minutes before they
We're all on their feet and seemingly
Possessed with the most ravenous ap-
petite. The cold and the rain made
them restless and they all wanted to
craze out on all sides o! the bunch at
once. We had to keep our ponies on
a trot to keep them within bounds.
The darkness rapidly grew denser and
We could see An immense black cloud
settling down upon us like huge
blanket. As We Were gradually en-
vcIoped within It's folds it seemed as
!. We Were stricken blind. 1t was ut
trrIy impossible to see thing. 1t
sounds almost impossible, but never
thr.ess is true.
Several times | passed my hand
across in front ct my face and could
not even distinguish an outline. Sew
era! times lost the herd entirely and
was only called to it hv the cough Of
steer or the low singing Of my com
lanlon, and once rode square into
one q them that gave suryrised
snort and shu,i!ed of in the darkness.
Then ! noticed bright little spark
allear at the top Of each ear Of nv
horse. This was the only iL;ns I
could see. My horses head, neck and
even their outlines were perfectly in.
visible. | could net account for the
phenomenal appearance these lights
Afterwards ! learned that this occurs
often on the darkest nights durino a
rain and is caused bv electricity
They Were only visible for few min.
ntes, when they disappeared as mvs.
terouSly as they came.
Meanwhile We were pulling our
|'N'S how 10 keep the cattle from
leaving nS. when finally the wind rose
again, driving the clouds before il onr
S.-ht was IN a measure restored n ~
The cattle turned tail to the wind and
ram aud started TO drift with it. Az
Ter F'dinE once around the herd and
getting them together. We stationed
ourselves a few feet in advance Of the
lead and a they would crowd IN to
IL we moved few feet further sbs AL
The leaders would hold back until
crowded uFon us by those behind
when We would again advance a If.
tie, In this manner We kept them
from going oil, and although we would